Willie Gillis Hometown News by Norman Rockwell

April 11, 1942 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

This painting by Norman Rockwell, Willie Gillis Hometown News, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published April 11, 1942. This is yet another timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic for the ages.

Another title for this painting is Willie Gillis on KP.

This painting was Rockwell's third cover for The Post in 1942. In 1942, there were eight Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

This painting was also Rockwell's 207th overall of 322 total pictures featured on the cover of The Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

This is also the fourth in the Norman Rockwell Willie Gillis series of covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell painted eleven images that appeared on the Post cover and one illustration that was featured inside the Post.

I have seen pristine original copies of this magazine cover sell for over one hundred dollars on eBay. And to think it only cost ten cents originally! And it was mint condition at that time, too.

The original oil on canvas painting, 38 x 30 inches or 96.5 x 76 cm, is currently part of a private collection.

This painting also appears in two Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

as illustration 253 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch and

on page 149 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

Still, he looks pretty perky and deeply engrossed in reading the newspaper.

The newspaper is probably not his first break. A half smoked cigarette is perched behind his ear, ready for the next break. It could very well be that this is not his first container of potatoes for this stint of KP.

I did a quick check to see if Arlington,Vermont had a newspaper called The Hometown News. There are currently no newspapers published by that name in the Arlington area.

Does anyone know if there was an actual newspaper by that name during the 1940's?

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Norman Rockwell Quotes:

I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to.

No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to put all his talent and feeling into them!

Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life.

Right from the beginning, I always strived to capture everything I saw as completely as possible.

The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back.

I can take a lot of pats on the back. I love it when I get admiring letters from people. And, of course, I'd love it if the critics would notice me, too.

You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression.